Page 18 of Labria

“Ah.” Was she asking me about her family? “You mean in your family?”

“My last name is still Jackson.” Alexis giggled. “I only claim them folks on Monday and the second Friday of each month.”

The table erupted with laughter.

“I plead the fifth.” I said.

“We got here at the same time. When I saw you at the funeral, I was so glad there was another black face. I know you can’t like all these damn Italians. They’re everywhere.”

I smiled at Alexis. She was White-passing most of the time unless the sun was glowing down on her, making her almost non-existent melanin pop. She was one of these damn Italians. But I did admire her desire to deny her DNA.

“Okay fine. I got one. I respectfully cannot stand your brother, Nicco.”

“Why? He’s my favorite half-brother.” She pouted.

“I have a long list of reasons.”

“Nicco is the guy I met in Chicago, right?” Khia stated to me, maybe to make sure. But I didn’t buy it. She knew who he was. Who could forget Nicco?

“Yes.” I knew as soon as I said yes, Khia was saying back to me in her mind that she hadn’t even met Lord yet.

“Why is Nicco your favorite?” I asked Alexis, trying to hide my disdain for her half-brother.

“He bought her a car, and he’s letting her stay at his hotel for free.” Brittany answered for her sister.

“That’s not the reason. He was the only brother that talks to me. Nicco and Valentina actually acknowledged my presence.”

“Labria, you’re with the second in command.” Brittany said this out loud, and I wanted to shrink into the leather chair. “Lordes, the blonde one. That’s your man, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you gonna stick beside him.” Brittany joked and the entire table erupted in laughter.

“Lordes is quiet.” Alexis assumed. “He hasn’t said much to me. Have you met their uncle, Gianni?” She asked me.

“I think so.” Wasn’t he her uncle too? “Maybe at the funeral, but I don’t remember him.”

“Your guy, Lordes, took his job. He’s Dom senior’s brother. I mean my father’s brother.” She corrected. I could tell it was hard for her to claim a man she’d never met.

Gianni, I couldn’t place him. There were so many people in the Bregoli family. “Oh.”

“I don’t like him. He’s weird. He looks at you like a real creeper. I’m like dude, we’re blood related. I’m your fucking niece. Tuck your eyes in your pocket sir.” Alexis said seriously bad in a joking way.

“That’s gross.” I said because I knew that feeling.

“Very gross, but his son, my cousin Maurizio, seems cool.”

I hadn’t heard much about any of these people. Lord wasn’t sharing things with me about his family. He probably thought I wasn’t interested in his them. I was okay with knowing his family. I just wasn’t keen on hearing any of the criminal stuff.

“I only like Cenzo.” Brittany announced while pushing food into her mouth.

I lifted my glass of wine and took a large sip. As soon as I placed the glass on the table, I saw him, that bastard. Speak of the devil, and poof, Satan was here.

I saw him gliding around like he was on an ice arena. He was so arrogant, but I was there when someone tried to murder him. He should be somewhere hiding, but he was too cocky to just go sit his ass down somewhere. His presence put all the rest of us in danger, and he didn’t seem to care. I almost died twice because of this pompous ass of a hole.

He was headed toward our table with his long-headed gelled hair. Ugh!

“Hello ladies.” He was grinning with all his teeth hanging out of his mouth. “I heard Labria’s beautiful sister was in town. I had to come see for myself that it was true.”

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